Tire chain release device



Filed May 11, 1948 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Nf/Ion 5- Herbr/c/f HTOR/VEY I Jan. 10, 1950 M. B. HERBRICK 2,493,760

TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Filed May 11, 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR.

Ni/fan 5. hern'c/f arr-0515K Patented Jan. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Milton B. Herbrick, Sterling, 0010. .Application May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,4(i9

Claims.

The invention relates to tire chain devices and is a continuation of and substitution for copending application Serial No. 653,072, filed March 8.1946, for Tire chain release device and co-pending application Serial No. 7,148, filed February 9, 1948, for Tire chain release device," each of which has been abandoned.

An object of my invention is to provide a release device, which will allow a tire chain to be released from a tire, and whereby the inner side chain can be, removed at a fairly remote distance, so that the operator need not kneel on the ground, or reach behind the tire.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for releasing the inner chain in a simple arrangement which requires very few extra parts and which can use the end cross chain for the releasing function.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having the above characteristics which canbe readily attached, or detached as stated.

A further object of my invention is to provide modifications of the arrangement, which modiiications, however, incorporate similar principles, and to provide structures which can be manufaotured at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement,,and combination of the various parts of my device,whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the releasing device as observed from the inside of the tire;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail taken along the lines 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a further form of the releasing device;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a releasing device as observed from the inside of the tire and illustrating still another form of the invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of the chain release device.

My invention contemplates a simple arrangement for detaching the inner, annular side chain of a tire chain arrangement, and whereby the operator need not become unduly soiled and the like, since the operator can release the side chain without touching any portion of the side chain itself, one'of the cross chains assisting in manipulating a release clamp to provide the above mentioned function.

I have used the character ill to designate the inner side wall of a tire casing, or the side which is facing away from the outside of the vehicle. I have further used the character H to designate a series of chain. links which provide the inner side chain of the chain arrangement, and I have used the character .-I2:to desi'gnate' :the usual cross the dotted lines.

' behind the tire.

links which straddle the tire I3, such cross links being attached at [54 to either side, it being understood that a further series of links H are positioned on the outside of the tire. I have further used the character I5 to designate the end cross chains including the aforesaid twisted links 12 and which is attached to a ring l6, which ring is attached to the usual clamps on the outside of the tire, and which clamps are attached to the end links H of the outside chain. This construction is well known in the art and need not be illustrated herein; 'The 'end' cross chain 15 during use will occupy the dotted portion shown in Figure 1 and its end member IE will be attached as explained above.

The end link I! of the crosschain'is pivotally secured at I8 to' a stud l9 which includes the collars 20, and which stud is received through an enlarged opening 2| in a prong 22 which prong 22 is pivoted at 23 and which continues into a jaw portion 24 which issubstantially semi-circular. A further prong 25 is pivoted at 23 to the portions 22 and 24, and continues into a further jaw 26, the jaws '24 and 26 passing each other slightly when engaged. The prong 25 is threaded at 21, and threadably engagesthe threads 28, which threads 28 are provided on the stud l9.

One end link H is received over the jaw 26, and the further end link is pivotally secured at 29 to the further jaw 24.

When using the device, the jaws are in closed position and with the end links H engaged as shown in Figure 1, and with the end cross chain l5 being positioned about the tire as shown by The firm engagement of the cross chain with its attached clamps, etc., will prevent rotation of the stud l9 and will maintain all of the parts in a secure manner. When it is desired to release the entire chain, first the member I6 is detached from the clamps on the outside of the tire, and next the cross chain [5 is held in approximately the position shown in Figure 1, and whereby it will not be necessary for the operator to kneel on the ground or reach Thering I6 is then rotated, or as shown by the arrow 30 in Figure 2, which rotation rotates the chain l5, and the stud l9, and as the threaded portion 28 of the stud is turned within the prong 25, the prongs 25 and 22 will separate thereby opening the jaws 24 and 26 until the end link H which had been engaged with the jar 26 will be released, which action can be expedited by gently shaking the chain 15, etc. The opening 2| is made sufficiently large with respect to the stud in order to allow for the different angular positions of the stud as the prongs separate. The junction point of the jaws is made close to the link ll so that the jaw will separate therefrom quite readily. This operation fill then release the inner side chain.

tached at 31 an end link I! of the same cross chain l5. The end 38 of the stud 3B is securely seated against the jaw 32 when the chains are attached, and when it is desired to detach the inner chain, the ring I6 is rotated the manner above described, which rotates the stud 36 carryder teed that et r types ,e h ead d ether arrang ment heii d he used w t ou owe r de parting from this above m entioned principle, t will new be seen'thet I ha e provided e erms advantages menti ned i he objects oi my invention with other advantages being reed y appa ent,

lnFieu e e and e is illustra d a furthe odiiicationand I haveeused the character Ill to desi n te the i ner sid wa ef a tire i g,

or the side which is facing away from the out.- s de hi th ehi le I ha e further u ed the ehe eet .ll te des nate a e ies of ain links wh sh nret de thenne side ehe of the in arran ement a d ,I ha e used. th cha 2 t desi nate the sua QTQ$S nks ic straddle he the le sheh cro s link e n a ached a t to e ther si e ithe he under h a furt er serie o U a positioned o the e tside hi the e- I h rt e used the ehereeter to des gn the end cros in he edihs the e ereseid twisted lin s 12 and ic is a tached to he '0! suitab e c amp wh eh mem er i is tteeh d to e li ks on th edtside hi the the in the ma ne This construction is welllgnown in the artiand heed et he ilius ete herein: e d e e th i e d ri g use eee sy t e dotted pe si n w q i u e e and s' d m m er it w l he e e d es exhleih d a ove Th e d link Il of the cross chain is attached at me th a me r ng Whistle l ne "i is a in e ral e t on the p r ieh '20 and in egra l extending from the portion '20 is a threaded stud 2lwhich is threadably engaged at 22 within a further circular member 23 Extending from the member 23 the further ear 24 which is attached at 25 to one of the end links li The further end link i I at the right hand side of Figure 4 receives the stud 2|;

When the cross chain l5 is in position as shown by the dotted lines, the inner, annular series of links-l I will beheld securely as shown.

' When it is desired to release the entire chain,

he chain 15 and the stud :ZI- until t stud 28 is removed from the member 23 This will release the ri ht han lin H wher by the enti e eheih can hen e readily r moved.

i It wi l new be tha pro ed the verieus d ehteees s t. ier h i the ob ects oi The mem-e' Jeer- IG is then rotated, which rotation rotates- 4 a my invention with various other advantages bein readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement gfthe parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

i clair as my invention:

1. A tire chain release device including an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, a cross chain, a member connected to one end portion of the innerside chain and hav ng a th aded evening, and a stud eenne ted' to e e ess e eih ehd en ag ng one of the links o t e ot e d rtidn of said'sidelchain and havin a. threaded eheee'em ntwith sa member and ete l hy cr s chain o ag and It e se s id n fo eoh tihe nd disconnect ng the two. end portions of the inner side chain.

2- A h chai eleas d ce c din n i he side cha n di d and ierm ns wo end er iehs a cr ss cha membe eenhee ed to one nd e tie oi the inner side hain an hav ng L hread d epe ihe and a. stud cenneeted to he t ees hain a d exten ng hrou h one of he Links .of the ether end po tion f said s de s am and ha ing a threaded enga ement with said member a dreteta le hy the eress their; o enga e and re ease said lh hier 011 necting and disconnecting the two end portions o the inn r ide cha n.

3, A tireeheih re ease de ise nehidihg'eh inr side ehein divided ehdtiermin two end peti ion a cross. chain and elahipmedns includng lamp mem ee. Leeted to one end er= tion of the laser side nd hre ded with e .reeess r eeivihe a nk, of the o her end per-i tien' of the e ain nd a threaded s ud coh= ested with the ere s end havihs' hreadd enga men with the sol mn m mbe at. one si e at he recess end ester. his ee ess same and enga ing and edhiinihg mid 1.1. 1; therein;

'' where y rotatio of the eress h in heu its lensitudihel axis will said clam o' e e d link and said inner side chain item a tire. s

comb nation withe i e having inner and outer side chain portions and cress ehe hs, cl mp the holdin said inner si chain portions'together, one of said tire cross heihgettaehed-te said clamp mea s whet by rotation of the cross chain about its longi: ud hal axis wi l cause said clamp m a s to releas sai inner ehain. pe t eh, said clamp m ans, iheluding a p r e 5 ei etediiaws e d. links ei s id inne cha n. por ion engagin thejawsi. e threaded d hedgin an extremit e the o aid Jew c oss chain being attached t6 said s ud wher ,hy etatie i of the cross-chain wil eeu e said l ws t o releas n an end l h hi the s de chem porti n. I

5-, A tire eh ih, r lease devise nclud n en ini e, ehaihdiv dedend id mihg two. nd h iensr e c oss a thread d meinher e heeted' is o e end p rt n e-i the inner sid she a stud threadably engaged with said member re;

' eei ed within a i k a the other nd pertie of the side chain, whereby retet en of the cross. cha n about its longitudinal axis will s nse sa d stud t9. re ea e aid hi l and said inne side chain from tire- Bi .Noreierences cited. 

